Questions About Economic Development ?
While there may be many questions that need answers about the Economic Development Committee their actions and expenses there are a couple that need answers now. The problem is no one in an official capacity has bothered to ask these questions during the past few years.
Why is there no written contract between the EDC and the Executive Director Mr. Dan Speer?
Why is there no written job description for the Executive Director Mr. Dan Speer?
Why is there no Inter local Agreement with the EDC/IDB?
On 30 June 2011 $56,650.00 was paid out for operations, $10,000.00 for Industrial Park maintenance and $18,247.03 for shell building interest payments? Almost $85,000.00 paid out and what did the county get in return?
Why aren't cities other than Pulaski paying their fair share to this organization as was agreed upon?
$92,519.60 was requested from Giles County taxpayers for Economic Development for the fiscal year 2011-2012, where has that money gone and what benefits did the county receive?
posted by Allen Barrett | 7:10 PM
91 Comments:
Why not direct those concerns to the Mayor?
Sounds like two things are in play here. One...it looks like you are trying to stir up a lynch mob. Think about that. Two...it looks like you are trying to impress people with what you know. The sad thing (for you)is that you have no say so about what goes on in local government.
7:00 are you satisfied with the amount of tax money being spent each year on this program. I appreciate the information Mr Barrett has provided. Why contact the mayor I don't live in the city and have nothing to do with what the city does but the county is a different story.
The only thing that is at play is we have a heck of a lot of tax money going out through this program, there is no written contract with the executive director, there is no written job description for the executive director and there are no written goals set for the executive director. Is there any private company that would pay out this much money each year with so little understanding of what it's for?
If you can be satisfied with such an arrangement fine for you but I'm not satisfied and that's why I posted the information so others could become informed and make their thoughts on the subject known. If you have nothing to say, other than to redirect the issue and make it a personal attack, then please allow others to post without the subject being hijacked.
At a time when money is very, very short in county coffers and some commissioners are itching for a property tax increase and a wheel tax, it seems every spending program should be re examined.
wab
Yes, I have something to say about the matter. Rather than attempting to belittle and stir up trouble, why don't you make an appointment to talk with the executive director about this?
Do you honestly believe that Dan Speer will make any changes to the way he conducts business? No contract, No goals, No guidance, No problem.
Do any of you realize that Dan Speer receives well over $100,000.00 in salary and benifits per year?
Why change?
12:20 Do you mean the Economic Development Director? And why would anyone go speak with the employee about this matter? This should be addressed with the Economic Development Board which is the committee Speer immediately is supposed to answer to, which acts on behalf of the citizens of Giles county taxpayers.
6:00,
The Economic Development Board is a board of appointed members, many who were appointed by Dan himself. They do not answer to the tax payers and the tax payers have no way to replace them.
In addition I have talked with members of the board for actions of Mr. Speer and they only make excuses for him.
So did Speer appoint many members of the board when he was mayor of Pulaski? If so, then Mayor Pat Ford can surely make changes. The county is represented by Vanzant and a couple of commissioners. Vanzant is on it because of her elected position. Believe she selects the commissioners who serve. So, changes can be made. Additionally, the board and Speer are funded by tax payer monies and if people push hard enough for change, change will have to be made.
We don't spend enough on Economic Development.
That's the only problem.
10:21
How much are we spending now each year?
10:21, I think that may be true but it needs to be spent with accountability.
If we were to place a qualified person instead of a career politician in the lead of driving economic development our tax dollars would be spent more wisely.
For example, ex-Mayor Speer was in office for 20 years. At the end of that twenty years, abundance of city debt, highest sales tax allowed, no diversity of entertainment, lack of choice in retail, so many empty buildings on the square and undeveloped with businesses that would promote tourism and property value increases. In addition all areas of Giles County are appreciating in value except the properties on the square.
He has a Psychology degree and not a business background and has not been trained or seem to understand what it takes to drive industry and retail to an area.
Why not make the person accountable for the dollars they spend and provide the taxpayers with a return on our investment.
As Mayor he lead the city council to spend a minimum of $18,000 to a man to teach marketing techniques to local businesses. This was taxpayer money and it is not the responsibility of taxpayers to fund the bill to educate business owners about how to market their businesses especially when there is no guarantee of return on investment. The Mayor touted because of these classes there will be a 4% increase in sales. How did that go? When no one showed up for some classes they were paid for again because people need to see them.
If you are going to pay a man to head the economic development of a county then that person should be able to teach the classes himself, after all he was in attendance and the classes were just about marketing techniques.
When you make statements that we do not want knew businesses, we want to help expand the existing businesses is closed minded and one reason Pulaski and Giles County are so unattractive to businesses locating here. A retirement community? Really? Check the census.
Right now, based on attending some economic development meetings and dealing with him directly my opinion is that having him in that position is a road block for businesses that would like to come into the county. At present we would be better off getting rid of the economic development committee as a whole and put billboards on the interstates and bypass that advertise the historically unique charm and subjects of the county.
Keep him in that position and we can expect some more shining economic development reports like he has given us in the past. What was it? We have to be poised for the growth Huntsville is going to see with the expansion of the arsenal. What a joke.
I would like to say this about the situation. Why on earth is Dan Speer being paid $100,000 a year? It seems to me that a very qualified person could be found to fill that position for $50,000 annually with commissions paid for new businesses landed? Why not? Just look what that would save the taxpayer!
Christian gentleman here.
I agree with 8:30 p.m. The Economic Director should be paid a reasonable flat salary, based on experience and marketing performance, then paid commission on new businesses that generate x number of employees.
Why is it necessary to provide a monthly catered lunch for the 15 or so ED board members when we have hungry, perhaps starving, families in Giles county?
Do not forget the free SUV and fuel, maintenance, etc.
I drove through Giles County yesterday, for the first time in a long time, and I was happy to see that all of the manufacturing plants were operating. I also though it looked good at Industrial Park South. The new solar park is cool. It looks to me like Dan Speer is doing a good job considering the state of the economy. I also noticed your paper had an article stating that your unemployment rate has been on a steady decline. It all sounds and looks positive to me. I guess I would need to hear some examples from the opposite side as to how things are so bad before I would believe he is such a bad guy. Sounds like jealousy and resentment to me.
Was this (Saturday, December 10, 2011 8:30:00 PM) post really made by the one WAB called a name?
I'm having a hard time believing it.
The unemployment rate denotes those who are actively filing for unemployment benifits. Thise who have used up all of their available benifits and therefore are no longer receiving benifits are dropped and not counted. So fewer people are filing for unemployment benifits; but an increasing number of people are out of work and are no longer eligible to receive benifits and are still out of work.
12:08
Yep.
8:52
You drove through Giles County on a Sunday and all the manufacturing plants were operating? Sounds like you are making things up. Many of those buildings are not using the full facility and are only running one shift. And some of them are empty.
In regards to the unemployment rate, if it is coming down it is not from new jobs coming to Giles County it is because people are going to new jobs in other counties where in addition they are spending money on gas, food, and a lot of their shopping.
Why is it that all other counties surrounding Giles are experiencing population growth and growth in manufacturing, but Giles County has a decrease in population and is the only county in the area to do so? With a four year college that continues to grow we do not have the jobs, opportunities or entertainment to attract or keep new college grads.
I know many of you do not want those people to stay in this area because you view them as outsiders with no rights. It has been stated on this blog before. So every one get in line to come to the great retirement community of Giles County.
In Pulaski if Dan announces a manufacturing plant is coming into Giles County and will hire 20 employees @ $9.00 an hour some people act like he has hung the moon. But you never hear about the companies that have inquired about doing business in Giles County and have been told no.
Why is it that any company that wants to pay a decent wage is not allowed in. For example when Walmart Distribution Center wanted to come into Industrial Park South but were told we did not want them by our illustrious EDC; how many people knew about that? What about Caterpillar Manufacturing and Toyota motors. These are just a few.
How many more employees would the Distribution Center hire than the Solar park? A lot.
As a person with a college education in business and work experience with fortune 500 companies as well as opening businesses in other areas of Tennessee in which I had to communicate with government officials, in my opinion Dan Speer is not an asset to Giles County in any way holding that position. Our tax dollars could be more efficiently used with a better rate of return than what we have seen up to present.
Don't get me wrong. Dan is great at using tax dollars and grant money to build side walks but as far as being a leader in economic development he was a failure in Pulaski, the square is a shining example, and he is not qualified to drive prosperity to Giles County. My question is where has he been the last 4 years? I bet if he was made accountable to some one you would see a change, but again I think his salary would be better spent on billboards on the interstate. At least we will know they are not laying down on the job.
4:43,
Don't let personal issues you have with someone cloud the fact that Giles County has a lower unemployment rate than most surrounding counties and that we are consistently filling any facility that has been void by old companies. We can't help that a company goes out of country, but we do a good job of replacing them. We are also doing a good job at adding new ones. Don't forget it wasn't very many years ago that Industrial Park South didn't even exist. I have lots of friends and family that have been able to get a job in Giles County in the last 5 years. I don't know if you pay attention to anything other than your own opinion, but a 4 year degree isn't getting people jobs anywhere these days. Even in the larger cities.
FF
Your post is not true, and it is not personal issues, they are factual and events I have witnessed. As for pretending to know something you were not a witness to you would be better to keep you mouth shut. You continually make false statements. Why is Lincoln County's unemployment reported at less than 6%. By the way 10>6.
We do not consistently fill our facilities. 3 of our largest facilities lay empty for close to two years and another large facility that was marketed as though it was filled and running at full capacity was only running one shift in one wing of the building.
Since you say "but we do a good job of replacing them. We are also doing a good job at adding new ones." I have to believe you are on the EDC or Dan himself and you have ulterior motives for your misinformed post.
Sometime call the career center and ask for the pay scales of jobs offered in this county opposed to the same job offered in any of our neighboring counties. You will find that you can make 25% more by driving to any of our neighboring counties for a job with a similar job description.
As far as degrees go it would be nice to have a person qualified and knowledgeable in the position that is expected to deal with people that come into this county scouting the environment. Unfortunately these location scouts are educated in business and logistics and many carry Master's degrees. When you have a psychologist trying to understand their companies needs, when he is uneducated on such matters, it is a recipe for failure. And we see it.
But that seems to be what you are comfortable with because you sure seem to have a problem with formal education. Any one with a brain would agree if a person is not qualified for a job then they do not get that job. Why is nepotism a driving factor for employment in this county as opposed to knowledge.
But thanks, I always get a laugh at how you make up points that can be easily disputed.
I drove down Mill Street and only saw two empty places where former business were of course that doesn't count the places that have been empty for over five years.
I drove down highway 31 between First National Bank and First Baptist Church and didn't see a single empty building, of course the Post Office may still be questionable.
I refused to drive thru industrial park north because I knew I'd see the Stanley Building and about six more that are empty or part filled and that would upset my observations that things ain't all that bad especially when you drive by Frito Lay at shift change and see the traffic jam.
The reason Linclon County has such a low unemployment rate is Huntsville. Most people that work in Huntsville don't want to live there.
You didn't dispute anything I said. I also know for a fact that similar jobs in surrounding counties do no pay that much more money.
It is obvious that your OPINION of Giles County Industry and job creation is biased. You can't argue truth with someone that only thinks one way. You obviously have a negative opinion of Dan Speer.
I also have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. So to say I have a problem with a formal education was an ignorant judgement on your part.
Answer one question 6:16, are you employed in Giles County?
FF
The reason Linclon County has such a low unemployment rate is Huntsville. Most people that work in Huntsville don't want to live there.
You didn't dispute anything I said. I also know for a fact that similar jobs in surrounding counties do no pay that much more money.
It is obvious that your OPINION of Giles County Industry and job creation is biased. You can't argue truth with someone that only thinks one way. You obviously have a negative opinion of Dan Speer.
I also have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. So to say I have a problem with a formal education was an ignorant judgement on your part.
Answer one question 6:16, are you employed in Giles County?
FF
Sorry, somehow that got posted twice. Maybe Barrett can delete one?
FF
My statements are from first hand knowledge based on research done at the career center, and census as well as state information.
In addition, a lot of people here in Giles County work in Huntsville, Franklin, and Nashville. They have to because jobs are not in this county and if they are they pay 25% less than the same job in a neighboring county. Go to the career center and ask for all the jobs available and simply compare like jobs with the same per-requisite qualifications in neighboring counties. Starting pay alone in manufacturing here on average is $9/hr in Maury County, Lawrence and Lincoln that same job is $12?hr. Check the census. It shows similar information.
Every one that has looked for a job in this county knows it. You can make excuses about Lincoln County and Huntsville but as a person who has driven to Franklin and Nashville to work and witnessed a slew of Giles County plates in early morning traffic, I know our county has the same benefit of the metropolitan areas. But that is there and we need a qualified, responsible person in the position responsible for welcoming and negotiating with new businesses that wish to do business in Giles County.
Check cashing stores, thrift and second hand stores are flourishing.
In cities all over the US
12:20, not just Pulaski. I still want to know if 9:21 works in Giles County?
FF
One of the reasons for low wages is the labor force is being raped by the employment services here like ranstat ect.These people are ripoffs and should be run out of town.They allow the factories to hire you on a trial period with no benifits and they get part of your pay.when the trial period is up you get let go and they send the employer another new employee,This should be illegal.
FF, What does it matter if 9:21 works in Giles County or not. Sounds like he has done his research. Maybe he did that before finding a job out of the county.
For all of you who believe that the employment situation in Giles County is doing well, I invite you to go to the Help Center and ask "How's Business?"
I have never seen lines in front of the Help Center like those before Thanksgiving. And, I am willing to bet that those lines will continue for Christmas.
Most of the people in front of the help center had rather not have a job. They like the free handouts.
9:30 AM Obviously you nor your family have ever been hungry. How cynical can a person get!
I agree with 9:30,when you have been feeding, clothing,sheltering,ect the same familys for generations and they refuse to better themselves.They should have to go without.a lot of these people living off of mine and your generosity would rather live on the dole than work.they have no pride at all.they want free DRUGS free housing,free medical,free cell phones,ect and think you and i OWE it to them.sad but true.
It is amazing how you can read the minds of the needy.
We do have some that were raised on hand outs and don't know any better so stay in the same hole.
Then we have some in this day and time have lost their job, can't find another or even sickness will have them in need.
We never what could happen to us.
10:42
You are absolutely right. Those who seem to have a lifestyle of living off handouts and entitlements make me sick. I drive through town most any day and see these able-bodied people sitting around doing nothing or walking the streets. It's shameful. And that's not to say that all of them are lazy.
Those who are destitute because of job loss or sickness deserve all the help we can give them. Most of us are never over a couple of paychecks away from it.
I agree fully 11:35 there are those who can do better but choose not to, while there are many who because of uncontrollable circumstances find themselves, many for the very first time, unable to care for themselves and they not only need but deserve our help without any loss of respect.
For the career welfare parasites that's a different story. Everyone who has taken welfare or any financial assistance for more than a year without any effort to alter their lives should be cut off completely and no chance of reinstatement without agreeing to monthly drug tests, and to do public service work for the assistance.
Able bodied and content to stay high and home watching TV while expecting others to provide for you, starve. When you get hungry enough you will change your ways.
Donna Baker down and mayor, vice mayor, economics dev. and who else needs to go.
I am glad to see other people feel the same way i do about the deadbeates that continue to suck off the goverment tit.Why does the goverment agencies that administer these FREE handouts WIC,HUMAN SERVICES,WELFARE, ECT not screen the applicants to see if they are truly qualified to recieve my tax money?
Because the more there are to serve the more secure the jobs of the government officials are.
Ask yourself, if you were a sixteen year and tired of school and being told what to do by your "stupid" parents what do you do? One, you can get pregnant go on welfare, take the WIC, free housing, medical, food stamps, etc and be trapped in that lifestyle getting more hopeless with each new pregnancy. Or you can stick it out and get an education and more maturity then you realize how much smarter your parents were than you thought and you make a life for yourself that you can feel good about.
Unfortunately many are choosing what appears to be the easy route not realizing the cost to self esteem is far to great. Today there are more unmarried people living together or as single parents than there are married couples. It's this statistic that is largely responsible for the huge number of
people living in poverty.
When God is removed from the equation in favor of government not only does immorality increase but all the problems associated with a Godless society become more destructive.
What actions can we the people take to stop this continous cycle of parasites from living off of our taxes and doing nothing to better themselves.There has got to be a way of stoping this and getting America back on the right track.Millions of americans see the problem but don't know what to do to correct the situation.any sugestions on what coarse of action to take.complaining does not help at all.There has to be some way to discourage these people from becoming a burden on society.any suggestions?
9;42 You could report suspected abuse on the anonymous Medicaid hotline then leave it to the proper authorities to investigate.
I tried reporting two unwed mothers that were living with the employed fathers of their babies and recieving wic plus aid from human services.both of these girls are also working at jobs that pay in cash,mainly house cleaning and other odd jobs.The people at human services were very rude and pretty much told me to mind my own business.I gave the names and addresses of these two parasites six months ago and still nothing has been done to stop the handouts.
Was that the local office of DHS or the State office?
Stop voting for the people who support the handouts.
I have voted for these canidates in the past but they never get elected.It seems most people are in FEAR of what will happen if the handouts are stopped.What do you think would happen if the handouts were stopped?
7:24
Crime rates would grow much worse.
7:24 People would get off their butts and find a job when they got hungry enough.
I think there would be total kaos.robbing,stealing,killing,and all sorts of crime.
1:48 I agree with you. But that's bound to be work in that and they've never worked before.
You could be right but surely the hunger would overcome the laziness and they would make some attempt to survive.
This is the season of giving.so please put aside your ill feelings and help these poor people have a merry christmas.
6:54 Good post.
In regards to the post we need some one accountable and with the desire to turn this area into more than a retirement community at the head of our economic development.
12:21 Yes we do!
We need a replacement for Speer who is not in the pocket of FNB, Richland Steel and Brindley Con.
The new EDC Dir would have to diclose his taxes and be on commission to bring companies in.
Speer has lost one of his flunkies at the chamber, now to get rid of the rest!
As a Chamber member I have been discusted to visit the Chamber and find DB and MC missing well I have just found out MC works at the newspaper! People at City hall still report to Speer!! This must change.
MC, secretary at the Chamber, replaced Sheila Holden.
It is not all Speers fault. LOOK AT HOW THE COUNTY CITIZENS FOUGHT AGAINST, ICE RIVER SPRINGS. They wrote letters and had petitions signed to keep them out of the county. Do you not think other industry prospects might have heard of this and want to avoid our county.
look at the negative impact of water bottling companies on the environment and water table in the areas they operate. There is a mountain of information on the subject of the water companies coming into areas under agreements and they have destroyed the land and hurt the residents. Once the water is removed and shipped out of here it does not go back to replenish the water table it drops it.
If you want the farmers in the area to start griping about shortage of water for their operations then by all means bring those companies in here.
But you are misinformed it was not only the citizens but the County Commission that agreed the bottling company may not have a right to pull from a public water source to sell as their private product. The spring they wanted to pull from was public and belonged to the people.
But lets look at Walmart distribution that wanted to come into industrial park south and was told no by our ECD, or Caterpillar motors, or any of the other companies that would employee good numbers per shift and pay a decent hourly wage. You did not hear about them because they quietly told them no.
We need a qualified head of the EDC and not an ex-Mayor who left Pulaski in enormous debt and with the highest sales tax rate in Tennessee and virtually nothing to show for it except harder times for those who live in Pulaski.
I should add he did better himself while in office with a nice $100,000 position a year that he was and is not qualified to hold.
It is a very plain and simple reason for our lack of sucess... Mr. Speer does not personally want any large firm, that might be able to influance Giles County and its citizens by its financial clout, to relocate or locate here. Such a firm just might degrade Mr. Speer's influance and that would just not do.
Mr. Speer is on record that his plan and vision of Giles County is that it should be a retirement community.
Without a commercial tax base; it will be (as it is now) the citizens of Giles County and it municipalities that have to foot the tax burden.
11:39,
I think the citizens voted for the tax increase. Don't blame that on the city. I would also like to hear more about CAT and Wal-Mart. Don't give ambiguous information. Give us some detail when you put something like that out. I don't believe what you are saying if you can't back it up with more information.
Actually, why did the voters have to vote on the tax increase? lack of maintenance and upkeep on known issues concerning the bleachers at Sam Davis until they became a danger. Let Sam Davis go or tax increase.
If ongoing maintenance and permanent solutions to fixing instead of temporarily shoring of the the bleachers when the issue arose would have saved the tax payers.
Walmart Distribution ask Dan, if he will tell the truth, but witnesses do have it straight from his mouth.
Caterpillar, by all means give them a call and ask if they considered locating to Giles County and see why they did not follow up. I'm not asking you to take my word but you can do a little fact finding on your own as I and others have.
While you are at it ask if he has ever attempted to direct customers to his wife's employee benefits company or ever tried to sale business insurance to any one that has been directed to him and approached him in his capacity as a public servant or while on EDC.
You still aren't stating any facts 10:30. Why should anyone that reads this blog have to call and ask when you can just give us the information from your research? It makes me think you are being dishonest. Prove what you are saying or stop saying it. So far you are nothing but a gossip.
Most of the repairs and upgrades that have been done on the stadiums and buildings at Richland for the Athletic Department have been paid for by the parents and through fundraisers. Maybe Giles County High School should do the same.
Because you will not believe anything I post. I challenge you to prove me wrong.
Pulaski should get money from the school system for the upkeep of Sam Davis and city facilities they use. But since Sam Davis is under Parks and Recreation the responsibility falls upon the city.
2:34
And what happens when the city needs more money to fund things, and the voters have voted in a charter that we don't need? That charter would stipulate that no tax increases could be made without a vote of the people. How much does the county have to pay out to hold an election? Lots. Who pays for that? We do! How many times have people EVER voted themselves a tax increase? What happens when needed services have to be dropped? Then what?
To 20 January at 7:19
Yo dude!!!
It is obvious that you have not read the proposed charter. The Charter does not affect and municipality within Giles County. The Cities will continue to operate without any interferance from the Charter.
Yes, Giles County would not beable to impose new taxes and/or raise the property tax rate without an approval from the county citizens. To answer your question about people having voted an increase in taxation? Your are correct to say NEVER.
How many times have the citizens of Giles County been provided that opportunity to vote whether or not they want an increase in taxation? NEVER
It's our money and we demand a say as to how much the Commissioners and County Executive may take from us without our permission. If there is a need for additional funding and the County Commission presents an honest proposal (how much is needed and specifically for what) for a tax rate increase I would vote to approve such an increase. But to continue to take, take, and take without our approval is close to robbery.
By the way, I suggest that you take a real close look at the current County Budget. There are numerous areas where Ms. Garner could save monies, if she had the personality to buck the County Executive.
What areas do you ask? How about a centralized County vehical maintenance garage rather than spending monies at local retail garages. Buy vehicl maintenance items (oil, filters, tires, windshield wipers, etc) in bulk. How about a centralized purchasing office that would purchase all the office supplies for all offices and the school system? How about bidding out the County insurance coverage and get the best value for our monies spent? How about insisting that all department heads, who supervise others and oversee their own department budgets, are paid as salaried employees and are exempt from any overtime? How about demanding that our County contributions to the Industrial Board and the Economic Development Board be based upon performance of siad Boards? How about implementing the spending saving that Ms. Garner proposed last fall but was ignored by the County Executive and the Commission Budget Committee?
Also you may find that many office budgets are inflated due to "Continuing Effort" imposed that states once monies are given an office those funds cannot be reduced. FYI Capital funding, per CTAS, should not be included in "Continuing Effort" funding. The school system budget could be reduced without any adverse affect to daily operational funding.
8:37
Who is going to pay the cost for a referendum election on a tax increase that you know very well will be defeated? When it is defeated, the county is eventually going to need more revenues. When they can't get it via a tax increase (everything goes up) what do you suppose will happen? Services WILL be curtailed. Add to that the idea that the state may cut off funding since we want to be independent. Then what?
I think the little group of unhappy people who are pushing this are primarily interested in getting elected officials out of the way via term limits, even though the voters wish them to stay. Isn't that pathetic? But the people of Giles County will see that and good people will run against these guys and defeat them at the polls just as they are doing now.
You can write another epistle if you so choose, but I pledge to do my part to see this thing defeated.
To 8:37 Excellent post and accurate in every way except one. The work at Sam Davis Park was the result of the citizens voting to raise taxes.
To 11:54 your post seems to be the work of a scapegrace, filled with distortions, bizarre speculations and outrageous claims with no supportive basis.
When a tax rate is proven to be justified for vital services there is no reason to think they would not be approved by the people. The problem is as was so accurately stated by 8:37, when you look at all the waste and places where the budget could be trimmed it is very discouraging and even anger provoking to be told a tax increase is needed. We do not have an income problem we have a spending problem exacerbated by a management problem. The great fear of those of your ilk is that the Charter would break their strangle hold on this county and its residents.
wab
Those of my ilk? You muist be insane.
I believe the great fear you and your two or three buddies have is that the charter will fail and that you guys won't be able to get those elected officials out of office whom the voters want to be there in the first place. That sir, is not a strangle hold; it's called the will of the people. That sorta reminds me of another case wherein a sore loser tried to get an election overturned.
8:37, your paragraph of solutions will cost the county more money because we would have to hire more people to oversee those services. We would have to hire our own mechanics and pay wages and benefits. Where are we going to get space to perform these duties? Outsourcing is the most economical way for businesses and government to operate. It takes away the salaries and responsibilites from the county and lets businesses deal with it. It saves the county money and helps local businesses grow and make new hires.
You need to think, study and look at the big picture. You especially need to stop listening to Barrett. He does not think about what is best. His mind is set to make government look bad at any cost. Even if it makes him a liar.
Barrett, when are you going to realize that you have no respect in this county? What is it going to take for you to get the message that anything you support will be defeated because of your stupidity and big mouth over the years. You have made yourself into a joke around here. I used to wonder how you didn't get attacked everytime you went out in public, but I have realized that most people feel sorry for you after awhile because you clearly have a problem.
4:02
Your joking right? Outsourcing like our prison systems and our probation systems that charge the tax payers way more for the services than it would cost if the government ran it themselves. Private companies are for profit and governments are supposed to be for the people. Maybe governments should start being for the people as opposed to trying to control the people.
It costs way less to have a vehicle repaired than have to pay for the building, electricity, all of the workers compensation and benefits and have to deal with the problems that go along with it. That is just fact. By your logic we should pay thousands rather than a few hundred. That doesn't make sense.
Then why is it that progressive counties such as Maury, Bedford, Rutherford have centralized acquisition of supplies and centralized garages?
As for the cost of a citizen referendum I do believe that we hold an election every two years. Adding an up or down vote to the ballot for a tax increase will not cost a single more penny.
Just for thought ..... if it is so cheaper to repair vehicles at local retail garages than have a central garage, why does our school system have a central garage????? I am sure that the diesel repair facilities in our county would love to have their repair and maintenance work.
wab
A scapegrace? That name seems to fit you better than anyone I know.
You state that people will vote themselves a tax when they see the need? I suppose you have the "supportive evidence" for that claim?
4:07
These are the same things I have been trying to get barrett to see for quite some time. I think we both are wasting our time trying to convince him.
To 6:11
I am not WAB but to answer your question about voters allowing a tax increase when they see the need..... If happened in Pulaski when the City of Pulaski asked the voters to fund the repairs to Sam Davis Park. I am not condoning whether or not the repairs were needed or wheter or not maintenance was provided to mitigate repairs.
BUT .... The voters saw the need and voted in the increase. Oh Yea once the bond has been paid the increase in tax reverts to the old and previous level .. automatically.
Hopefully this will provide you with "supportive eveidence".
Have a good wekend and I hope that your football team wins.
5:46,
Maury County is not progressive. The only thing they have going for them is Williamson County being on their border.
It should be obvious that we perform maintenance on the buses because there are so many.
You have to sit down and work numbers on everything regarding what the county spends. Some things pay to be "in house" and some work out better to be outsourced.
It should be obvious that we have more County non-bus vehicles in Giles county than we have school buses. Add up all the vehicles the Sheriff, Ambulace Service and county officials drive. So if you agre that we do need to conduct maintenance on school buses because of the number of vehicles/// How much more would it cost to increase the school garage and include all county vehicles???
Compared to Giles, Maury is progressive and knows how to attract businesses to give the residents choice.
Giles County is as progressive as Mayberry, and that is how the elected officials seem to want it.
When the head of the EDC wants this to be a retirement community and gets almost $100,000 annually of the taxpayer money to keep it that way, what do you expect.
8:18
I would agree with that. I have heard for many years that Dan Speer wants this to be a retirement community? If that is true, he is insane and needs to be replaced immediately.
Does Speer have a new EDC vehicle?
You know he does. At the tax payer expense.
Do you not think if Pulaski had the necessary sales tax base, that means businesses locating into Pulaski, residents having the income to support those businesses because there is ample employment, and the city administration properly maintains the existing infrastructure, including parks, do you think there would have been a need to burden the tax payers with a vote and then an increase to the ones that voted against it.
It only hurt Pulaski. I know many people that work in Lincoln County that told me because of the tax increase, even though it was a small tax increase they would start doing all their shopping in Lincoln County since they get their paycheck there any way.
When are the bonds paid in full? Will any of us be alive to see the tax increase revert back?
Well, I am the one a couple of people like to criticize for calling myself a Christian and a gentleman, but I'd just like to share my thoughts on the Dan Speer situation. If he is on record for saying he thinks Pulaski should be a retirement community and if he is doing nothing to bring jobs to Giles County, he ought to be fired immediately. If it's true, isn't this much like hiring a fox to guard your henhouse?
6:03 PM I truly did not know Speer has a new vehicle but had only heard he does. So it is true then?
White Explore or Expedition provided by the tax payers. It might not be new, maybe 2010 model. You might want to ask him.
Is Scott and Dan Speer brothers?
Are Scott and Dan Speer brothers?
No
Unfortunately for Scott, they are cousins
Scott is Dan's nephew.
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